NEWARK -- Cory Schneider, a diehard Boston sports fan, would rather talk about the Super Bowl than having reporters ask him for maybe the millionth time in the last year how his body feels.

“I thought you guys were going to talk Patriots right now,” Schneider joked Monday, after the Devils’ practiced at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House. “I didn’t know you guys were going to ask about me.”

For the record, Schneider said he feels great physically after returning from an abdominal strain.

Schneider returned to Newark after at the conclusion of an American Hockey League conditioning assignment with a guarantee that he will make a start in at least one of the Devils’ four home games this week.

It’s been a long road back for Schneider, who is having the worst season of his career and trying to reestablish himself after offseason hip surgery and now the ab injury. It’s unclear whether or not the ab injury stemmed from the hip injury, but what is clear is that Schneider, who is 0-7-1 in nine games this season with a .852 save percentage and a 4.66 GAA, is ready to prove he’s still capable of winning hockey games.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider (35) reacts after giving up a goal during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Tampa, Fla.(Photo11: Willie J. Allen Jr., AP)

“It’s a long, complicated answer,” Schneider said. “Let’s just say I feel really good physically right now and we've done a lot of work on and off the ice just to get me to a place where i feel really good about my game again.”

The results in Binghamton weren’t great on paper, but Devils’ goalie coach Roland Melanson was very encouraged by what he saw on film from his five starts. Schneider himself thought his fundamentals were strong, his footwork was good and he was making the saves he needed to make.

“These last two games especially, I was playing with pace and quickness and getting to my spots,” Schneider said. “I was in better position before the play happened so I didn’t have to try and catch up to it or react late. We worked a lot on trying to get to my spots and hold my feet a little bit longer and not committing or going down too soon.”

Schneider is unsure why he struggled with letting in early goals in Binghamton, although a source said the team didn’t exactly defend well in front of him in a few of those games. But he acknowledges that’s been a problem since late in 2017 and it’s a problem he’s still trying to find an answer to.

“For most of my career I’ve always been a really good first-period goalie, but obviously this season some early goals have gone in,” Schneider said. “That’s something I’ve worked on, just refocusing and getting locked into the game. Some games you’re going to give up an early one regardless. You can be on top of your game and they can put a nice one in. It’s about how you battle back and recover.”

That could almost be the mantra for Schneider right now as he attempts to battle back and recover from all that has plagued his body and his game this season and last. Schneider isn’t going to deny that this season hasn’t been tough for him mentally and physically, but he’s also not about to ask for sympathy.

He wants to get back to his old self and everyone around him sees him trying to do so.

“It’s inspiring in a lot of ways because of what he is doing every day,” forward Brian Boyle said. “I don’t know if he gets discouraged. If he does he keeps it to himself and he’s determined to get better. He’s worked his butt off trying to get better and better every day and no one needs to tell him. He doesn’t even want one puck to get by him ever. It’s just not coming easy for him right now.”

General manager Ray Shero has taken a personal interest in the status of Schneider, having several one-on-one conversations with the goalie throughout the season and during this latest rehab period. The organization made sure he and his family had all they needed while he was in Binghamton and they remain committed to a tandem of Schneider and Kinkaid right now.

Schneider is in a good spot with a long-term contract and a no-trade clause. He’s owed $6 million in each of the next three seasons. With Mackenzie Blackwood knocking at the door, it’s Kinkaid who may be feeling the heat as the Feb. 25 trade deadline approaches.

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But Schneider is still putting pressure on himself to return to his old form. The Devils want him to know that they believe in him and they hope he believes in himself as well.

“They’re highly talented people but they’re still human beings and they go through different things, like recovering from surgery, confidence, sometimes guys get in a rut,” coach John Hynes said. “I think from Ray, our ownership group with Josh (Harris) and David (Blitzer) and our medical staff right on through has been very supportive of Cory. Now the next step is continuing to try and show our belief in him and our desire to help him get back to the level that he and we would like him to be.”